Liz Gyekye / PackagingNews

Wales “dramatically” reduces bag use

Anecdotal evidence from major retailers suggests that Wales’ carrier bag charge has dramatically reduced bag use in Wales, according to environment minister John Griffiths.

The carrier bag charge came into force on 1 October in Wales.

As a result of the charge shoppers across Wales are now paying five pence for very new single-use carrier bag.

Speaking one month on from the introduction of Wales’s carrier bag charge, Griffiths said that anecdotal evidence from retailers suggested that the charge had “dramatically” reduced bag use in Wales.

He added: “This is exactly the outcome we want.

“Retailers, both large and small, have played a massive part in making the charge a success so far and I would like to thank them for the ongoing work in ensuring the charge works and that their customers understand it.”

‘All types of bags’

The carrier bag charge applies to single use plastic bags, paper bags and bags for unpackaged fast food, and covers all types of shopping including food, clothes and household goods.

The Welsh government said the charge is aimed “at dramatically reducing bag use in Wales in order to reduce litter and waste, and to encourage people living in Wales and visiting Wales to live more sustainable lives”.

‘Teething problems’

The Minister said that there had been a few minor teething problems, and that there had been a small number of complaints about retailers that were not applying the bag charge.

It said that the majority of “these were honest mistakes and this was exactly why the Welsh Government had agreed a three month bedding in period so that everyone could get used to the charge”.

However, Griffiths warned that retailers who were persistently and deliberately failing to apply the charge would be penalised.

There had also been a small number of complaints about the fact that the law applied to paper bags and to bags for packaged fast food.

The first figures on carrier bag use following the introduction of the charge are expected in May 2012.